Despite bad reviews from everyone who has ever seen this, and Director Wes Craven noting that he did it purely for the money, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Starting with a little nod to ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’, the film then introduces us to a group of teens who are about to embark on a trip to a motor bike race to test out their bosses super fuel. Their boss (who just happens to be a survivor of the first film) decides that he cannot go back to the desert, so lets his partner take charge of the gang.
Thanks to some ridiculous plot points, the gang find themselves having to take a shortcut through the desert, despite the warnings from various roadsigns and people, and would you believe it, the cannibals are still out there.
More out and out teen horror than the original, Part 2 manages to be an entertaining, well shot horror movie that features performances from some great genre vets, and never takes itself too seriously whilst still managing to be fun rather than campy and self-referential.
I had heard that this film was comprised mostly of flashbacks but that is a lie, yes there are flashbacks from all returning characters including the pet dog, but hey animals have feelings too.
The film’s young cast members are familiar faces and a young Penny Johnson of ’24’ fame even demonstrates some of her other ahem… talents which helps to make the film a fun ride from start to finish.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Wes Craven has always struggled to escape his success in the genre, but even with this movie, which his heart clearly wasn’t in, he manages to make an entertaining and well shot movie that was a pleasure to watch. Lets face it, the man was born to make horror movies and he still does it extremely well.
